大象传媒

Upskirting is a highly intrusive practice, which typically involves someone taking a picture under another person鈥檚 clothing without their knowledge. 大象传媒 News has found that thousands of users openly sharing obscene material of women and girls taken in public without their consent via Facebook accounts and user groups. Meta, Facebook's owner, says it has removed a large number of accounts and groups posting pictures and videos of upskirting following the investigation.

We speak to three women from Nigeria, India and England who have all been victims of upskirting. Chidera in Lagos, Nigeria explains how street boys gathered around her car as she sat in traffic and tried to look up her skirt. Dr Pragati Singh from Delhi, India, describes how she was photographed after she had gone to a park alone and had dozed off. She says people have also tried taking pictures of her whilst travelling on the metro in India. Meanwhile Sarah (not her real name) shares her experience of being upskirted in her workplace and which was captured on CCTV.

But what can be done to hold those committing this crime to account? In Sarah's case the incident was brought to court but did not proceed to a trial. In Chidera and Pragati's case there was no evidence to back up their claim. In many countries sexual harassment is so widespread that it is almost impossible to legislate. Even if someone is brought to justice, will it stop them from committing sexual harassment again? Dr Pragati says "justice is like a bandaid...when it gets ripped off maybe the wound still oozes".

Is the term "upskirting" appropriate for this type of crime? Dr Pragati believes it is not the correct term "for the simple reason that it almost makes it sound like a sport".

"Everything to do with sexual harassment is so normalised in my country." Dr Pragati Singh, India.

(Photo: Commuters moving at Central Secretariat station, New Delhi, India Credit: Getty Images)

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